MONROE - The City of Monroe is considering bringing the annual Clean Up Days back, but at a cost to taxpayers.
Members of the Board of Public Works are leaning toward the possibility of adding an annual $15 to $20 charge, divided quarterly, to city water bills to offset the cost of having Clean Up Days. The annual charge would be instituted rather than adding $76,000 to the city budget to pay for Clean Up Days.
The Clean Up Days project will be discussed more during the budget process at the Finance and Taxation Committee meeting tonight.
The committee discussed alternative ways to get Clean Up Days back in Monroe, without adding it to the tax levy, Monday.
The city held Clean Up Days in 2008, but the event was eliminated for 2009 because of city budget concerns.
The city needs to cut about $700,000 from the proposed 2011 budget to meet the state requirement of a 3 percent or less increase in operating expenses.
The $76,000 additional cost to the city for Clean Up Days does not include labor or equipment, which adds about $46,000 to the project.
Tom Boll, street department supervisor, said employees and equipment would be pulled from other city work to do the pickup duties for Clean Up Days, so the city would not incur additional wage costs.
Whether the additional cost of Clean Up Days comes on the tax bills or the water bills, residents of Monroe may still need to pay for stickers for some special items, such as tires, appliances with Freon and electronic equipment.
The actual cost for Clean Up Days in 2008 was more than $49,000. Labor and equipment costs added another $42,000.
Members of the Board of Public Works are leaning toward the possibility of adding an annual $15 to $20 charge, divided quarterly, to city water bills to offset the cost of having Clean Up Days. The annual charge would be instituted rather than adding $76,000 to the city budget to pay for Clean Up Days.
The Clean Up Days project will be discussed more during the budget process at the Finance and Taxation Committee meeting tonight.
The committee discussed alternative ways to get Clean Up Days back in Monroe, without adding it to the tax levy, Monday.
The city held Clean Up Days in 2008, but the event was eliminated for 2009 because of city budget concerns.
The city needs to cut about $700,000 from the proposed 2011 budget to meet the state requirement of a 3 percent or less increase in operating expenses.
The $76,000 additional cost to the city for Clean Up Days does not include labor or equipment, which adds about $46,000 to the project.
Tom Boll, street department supervisor, said employees and equipment would be pulled from other city work to do the pickup duties for Clean Up Days, so the city would not incur additional wage costs.
Whether the additional cost of Clean Up Days comes on the tax bills or the water bills, residents of Monroe may still need to pay for stickers for some special items, such as tires, appliances with Freon and electronic equipment.
The actual cost for Clean Up Days in 2008 was more than $49,000. Labor and equipment costs added another $42,000.